The Croissant French Toast Casserole can easily be prepared the night before and baked in the morning! Impress your family on a weekend with a decadent breakfast that will surely keep everyone happy.
There’s no better way to serve croissants. Buttery, flaky croissants soak up a full-flavored egg wash to give you perfect, soft-in-the-middle with a crispy golden crust—the best of both worlds! Incredibly easy, this might just be better than the regular French Toast. Let your oven do the work and enjoy a contest of flavors!

What Sets These Croissant French Toast Apart?
If you’re craving good French Toast but looking for an added kick of indulgence and decadence, I have the recipe for you. Sure, you could whip up a French Toast Casserole using regular old bread, but today, we’re diving into something a bit more luscious and buttery.
If we have anything in common, it’s our love for croissants. After all, croissants paired with a cappuccino are the start of an amazing day.
Almost like a bread and butter pudding, this croissant French toast recipe is wet and silky on the inside and crispy on the outside. Surprisingly easy to throw together, you won’t have to stand at the stove watching a hot pan, flipping, and maybe burning your breakfast. (Because let’s be honest, Orange Creamsicle Mimosas may or may not be on your brunch menu.)
Baked Croissant French Toast: Key Ingredients
The secret to this French toast is in its key ingredients. Each one brings something special to create a decadent, flavorful dish with the perfect balance of textures. From buttery croissants to rich heavy cream and aromatic vanilla, let’s dive into what makes this recipe truly exceptional:
- Croissants: The star of the show! Using day-old, buttery croissants instead of regular bread provides a flaky, tender texture that soaks up the custard mixture beautifully. This makes the French toast both crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. When buying croissants, opt for high-quality, all-butter ones for the best results.
- Heavy Cream (Thickened Cream): Adds a rich, velvety texture to the custard mixture, making the French toast incredibly indulgent and luxurious. The cream helps achieve that perfect creamy, soft center. Look for heavy cream with a high-fat content for the creamiest texture.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Infuses the dish with a warm, aromatic flavor. The pure vanilla extract enhances the overall sweetness and depth of flavor, making each bite more delightful. Avoid artificial vanilla; pure extract provides a much richer and authentic taste.
*Note: Please see Recipe Card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Additions And Substitutions
When it comes to Baked Toast French Croissant, indulgence is key. Even if you don’t have every ingredient on hand, don’t worry—there are plenty of delicious alternatives that will keep the flavors rich and satisfying:
- Croissants: If you don’t have day-old croissants, you can use fresh ones. Simply toast them lightly to dry them out a bit, ensuring they soak up the custard without becoming soggy.
- Dairy: Whole milk and heavy cream give the French toast a rich and luxurious texture. If you prefer a lighter version, you can use half-and-half or even a combination of milk and a non-dairy alternative like almond or soy milk.
- Toppings: Vanilla sugar and powdered sugar add a lovely finishing touch. For added flavor, top your French toast with fresh fruit, a dollop of whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Maple syrup is always a classic choice for serving.
Creating Perfect French Toast Bake: Step-By-Step
Ready to create a decadent Baked Flaky French Toast Bake? Follow these simple steps with images to guide you through the process. You’ll achieve a luxurious, buttery French toast with crispy, golden edges and a soft, velvety center that’s sure to impress and delight your loved ones:
- Prepare the Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Halve croissants horizontally and arrange the bottom slices in the dish.
- Make the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
- Combine and Layer: Pour over half of the egg mixture. Drizzle with maple syrup. Add the remaining croissants over the top and pour the remaining egg mixture over the croissants. Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat and Prepare: When ready to bake, remove baking dish from the refrigerator and let stand for at least 30 minutes to get the chill out. Preheat oven to 375°F (175°C). Top croissants with thinly sliced butter and dust with cinnamon and vanilla sugar.
- Bake: Transfer to the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until croissants are golden. If the tops of the croissants begin to brown too quickly, tent dish loosely with foil.
- Serve: Serve croissant French toasts warm with powdered sugar, ice cream, maple syrup, and fruit (if desired).
As soon as your Buttery Croissant Toast comes out of the oven, scoop out some ice cream or Red Velvet Cookie Dough Frozen Yogurt. Serve with a beautiful Honey Lime Fruit Salad and Coconut Whipped Cream or 3-Ingredient Double Chocolate Mousse and allow it to transport you to another world. For an extra treat, try pairing it with a delectable French Toast Roll Ups for an unforgettable brunch experience.
Recipe FAQ’s
If you can’t find croissants, you can substitute with brioche or challah bread. Both options will still provide a rich and buttery texture.
The French toast is done when the croissants are golden brown and the custard is set. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean
It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the oven to maintain its crispy texture.
Croissant French Toast
Ingredients
- 8 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream (thickened cream)
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 medium-sized croissants (about 1 ¼ pound | 570 g) — one day old croissants are best.
- â…“ cup Canadian maple syrup
- ¼ cup butter thinly sliced
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon to dust
- 1 pinch vanilla sugar to dust
- 1 pinch powdered sugar ice cream, maple syrup, fruit, to serve
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9×13 inch-baking dish with nonstick cooking oil spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
- Halve croissants horizontally (like a sandwich). Arrange the bottom slices in the base of your dish.
- Pour over half of the egg mixture. Drizzle with maple syrup.
- Add the remaining croissants over the top and pour remaining egg mixture over the croissants. Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes or overnight.
- When ready to bake, remove baking dish from the refrigerator and let stand for at least 30 minutes to get the chill out.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (175°C).
- Top croissants with thinly sliced butter and dust with cinnamon and vanillin sugar.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until croissants are golden. If the tops of the croissants begin to brown too quickly, tent dish loosely with foil.
- Serve croissant french toasts warm with powdered sugar, ice cream, maple syrup and fruit (if you desire).
Chen Rationalist says
Are the people in this comment section just totally retarded? I love this recipe; 5/5. But I feel the other commenters have a few screws loose.
Kim says
Well, that was completely unnecessary… 🤨